JezzaL69

I will start off by saying that I had my best round on my Miami golf trip here, so my view of the course is inevitably a bit biased by memories of the long putts and chip-ins for birdies and the par I made on the 610 yards (into the wind!) par 5. Make no mistakes, Crandon has teeth, with plenty of water and some tough carries. I played the blue tees at over 6800 (choose your tees wisely) and there was some wind as well, which made it even more challenging. Bring your A game and I suggest an 18 handicap or better to get the most out of it. Having said that, no matter the state of your game, you cannot fail to enjoy the majestic scenery of this lush green course set in a state park, with distant views across the water of the Miami skyline. The full price green fee is a bit steep, but luckily I played with a local and got a good deal. Every golfer who comes to Miami should seek out this course - you can keep Doral, I am a Crandon devotee.

Comparing this course to Biltmore and Crandon (must plays in Miami), which I also played on this trip, may be a tad unfair. You can get a cheap golfnow green fee (just over $30) and have a decent day's golf. The course condition is distinctly average and the greens very slow, but the lay out shows that, with a bit more care and attention, it could be a lot better. The practice tee is so sanded it is like playing from a fairway bunker and the chipping green is overgrown and unkempt. Even the staff were not exactly the most helpful or friendly. If you are in the area and want a game for a low fee, go for it, but there are much better golf options in Miami, especially if you are on a trip and have a limited number of days to play.

I was keen to play this course given it is a Donald Ross design from the 20s and set against the backdrop of the iconic Biltmore. The course was in reasonable condition, although the greens, which are not the easiest anyway in true Ross style, were a bit patchy and very hard in place (such that you did not always get full value for good shots). Practice facilities are decent and pace of play was fine (just under 4 hours for a two ball and we did not have to wait until the 16th hole). If you can get a good Golfnow price (a day or two before and you can maybe get a hot deal for not much more than $50), it is well worth a visit.

I came to Florida for warm weather winter golf, so wind and rain on the front 9 before having the back 9 rained off by a torrential downpour does put a bit of a downer on things. I was offered a rain check by the friendly staff, but I did not have time to return. To be honest I would not rush back anyway. Firstly, it is course played through a housing development, which is not my favourite style of course. It is also a rather straightforward track for me as single figure handicapper (two over after 9, even in wind and rain) , and I had to wait on every hole for the seniors playing ahead of me. There is nothing special about the lay out or its condition (maybe the restored Banyan Creek is now getting the attention?) that would make me rush to return. If you are in the area and want a round, and can get a hot deal at under $40, go for it, but otherwise there are far better golf courses in Florida.

Port Royal is a great track, a proper test of golf which asks a player to use all the clubs in his bag and be inventive in his shot-making at times. As mentioned in my last review, I feel it has been a bit over-bunkered by the US designer who did its make-over a few years ago, and the greens are, especially at this time of year, too hard and fast, so not always giving value for good shots into them. Add in the Island Games were held on it only last week, so some of the pin positions remained very tough, and if you play even close to your handicap, you are doing very well. Any golf trip to Bermuda simply must include a round here, and at GolfNow's prices it is money well spent.

Since the last time I played this track in March, it has gone downhill rapidly. The club is in receivership and the bank who effectively own it now have turned off the tap (metaphorically and quite literally!). Only the greens are now watered and even then they are aerated, so have few consistent rolls. With Bermuda's hot summer now upon us, the fairways are straw coloured and rock hard, which makes for a frustrating round of golf. I am glad we had a greatly reduced GolfNow green fee, but I am afraid that I would advise anyone thinking of playing here to check if it has a new owner first who has started to invest in the course's upkeep before wasting the money. It can be a good course again, but not until this limited maintenance policy ends.

Riddells Bay has opened up to allow visitors now, so I thought I'd give it a go. Firstly, the greens had been recently aireated, so it meant lots of bobbly putts (I hope they are better when I return in a few weeks#. Secondly, no course planner and a first time round alone on a course with quite a few blind tee shots meant a fair bit of guess work was required. Now the good news - it was fairly quiet, even at the weekend, so rounds here are not overly long, and the lay out, although short, is interesting, taking in dogs legs, shots over water and requiring careful club selection. I shot 78 #par 70#, but as an 8HCP that is about right. It is not cheap - even on Golf Now the far superior Port Royal can be played for the same green fee - but it is worth adding to a Bermuda itinerary for the variety and the old school charm of the course #90 years old last year).....oh, and the views, as on most Bermuda courses, are wonderful.

Update on last review - I am pleased to report the greens are in far better shape now we are approaching the summer. They are harder and faster and cut low, with no noticeable moss patches. Well done to the ground staff. Staff in pro shop excellent too, as I had to delay my tee time on the day and they were most accommodating. Oh, and I went round in par on the second loop of 9 holes to complete a perfect afternoon. At $45 for 18 holes which you can play in less then 3.5 hours it is the best value golf in Bermuda and well worth adding to a trip itinerary, maybe as your first course to ease into your golf on the easiest track on the island.